The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in Oyo state visited some food markets in Ibadan on Thursday to sensitise vendors on cholera and how to prevent its spread.

NAWOJ chairwoman Omolola Alamu said the association needed to collaborate with the state government to check the outbreak.

“NAWOJ is campaigning against the spread of cholera because we don’t want the people of Oyo State to contract cholera and, thereby, spread it in the state,” she said.

Ms Alamu said the association went around to educate food vendors on the importance of maintaining good personal hygiene.

“We need a clean environment; we must ensure that food cooked for public consumption is done in a good environment and with clean water,” she said.

According to the chairperson, proactive steps are needed to ensure Ibadan residents are aware of cholera, going by the town’s proximity to Lagos, a state with high records of victims.

“There’s a need for urgent and proactive steps to ensure that everyone is aware of cholera, knowing what to do and what not to do. We picked food markets because many of the citizens buy cooked food to eat daily, and this is one of the fastest ways to contract cholera.

“We are educating food vendors to ensure that what they are selling is made with clean water and in a healthy environment,” she said.

Meanwhile, Dupe Fehintola, chairwoman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) Chapel, said educating the public on preventive measures against cholera was pivotal.

According to her, prevention is better than cure.

Ms Fehintola said she was surprised that some of the market men and women were not aware of the cholera outbreak in the nation.

She added that at the Okrika market, two women said they had taken it upon themselves for a while now to educate their colleagues on the importance of proper hygiene.

“The market men and women are now getting more informed about cholera as we furnished them with more information in a one-on-one talk,” she said.

(NAN)